Rapido Auto Completes 1 Million Rides Within Five Months Of Operations

Rapido, India’s largest bike taxi platform, today announced the completion of 1 Million Rapido Auto Rides within five months of launch. The company launched the Rapido Auto Service in October 2020 and is currently present in 25 cities in the country.

Rapido Auto has onboarded almost 70,000 Captains so far and plans to onboard half a million in the next six months. It also plans to encourage women to join the Rapido Auto Captain fleet and provide them with an opportunity to earn extra income. The service acts as an additional public commute option for commuters that is safe, affordable and conveniently accessible. Hyderabad sees the highest demand for the service, followed by Delhi, Chennai.

On the completion of 1 Million Rapido Auto rides, Aravind Sanka, Co-Founder, Rapido, said, “In the aftermath of the ongoing pandemic, autos have emerged as a preferred way of commuting after bike taxis. There is a growing demand for safe, affordable and accessible rides, and Rapido Autos fulfill that gap, while also providing a familiarity of experience and standardization of pricing. We will continue to focus on making the service available to all cities Rapido is present in.”

Each Rapido auto is powered with Rapido’s GPS technology ensuring access to continuous demand from customers around them. Through Rapido Auto, users can track and share their ride in real-time, with their loved ones. Rapido Auto, like Rapido Bike Taxi service, has an in-app feedback mechanism to allow for and ensure a safe and consistent experience for commuters.

Rapido recently announced several initiatives towards maintaining safety and following guidelines to protect the customer and the Captain, including the innovative Safety back shields for bike taxi rides. For the Auto services, the captains are mandated to sanitize and clean the seats and all customer accessible areas, post every ride, along with mandatory usage of masks during the entire ride by the Captains and the passengers.

EuroKids International School Appoints Mr. Bijou Kurien To Its Board

EuroKids International, a leading Education company in India backed by global investment firm KKR has announced the addition of Mr. Bijou Kurien as a new board member to the EuroKids International Group. A retail sector veteran, Mr. Kurien is highly credited for his contribution to the development of the Indian retail sector. He has also been associated with several marquee brands in the fast moving consumer products and consumer lifestyle sectors in India, for over 34 years.

Mr. Kurien is a science graduate and has also completed his post-graduation in Business Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Kurien is an Independent Director on the boards of several listed and unlisted companies, and advises select consumer product companies and mentors a few start -ups.  He is presently the Chairman of the Retailers Association of India (RAI).  Mr. Kurien is also a member of the World Retail Congress since its inception, as a member of its Advisory Board as well as the Grand Jury for selection of the World Retail Award winners. In addition to retail industry foray, Bijou is the Mentor of the FICCI National Retail Committee, and Governing boards of various academic institutions.

Welcoming Mr. Bijou Kurien to the board of EuroKids International Group, Prajodh Rajan, Co-founder and Group CEO, EuroKids International, said, “We are excited to have Bijou join our board of directors. He joins EuroKids at an exciting time in which we are poised to grow multi fold and are fast expanding into newer market segments. Our organization will greatly benefit from Bijou’s extensive knowledge of consumer behaviour, marketing, retail and from his prior experience across a range of sectors.

“I’m delighted to join the Board of Directors at EuroKids International and am looking forward to assisting the organization at a strategic level by leveraging my retail & consumer experience as we create more access points for furthering high quality education in the country. With EuroKids Group, I see the opportunity to build a scaled education organization that can cater to the growing aspirations of the Indian parents”, said Mr. Kurien.

About EuroKids International:

As India’s leading Early Childhood Education & K-12 Education company, delivering the ‘Joy of Learning’ is at the heart of EuroKids International. By enhancing its pedagogy and consistently building a holistic, nurturing and secure learning environment for children, EuroKids is coming closer to its vision of REINVENTING EDUCATION in the country.  Over the last 2 decades, EuroKids International has played an active role in the evolution of the education landscape. With its portfolio of brands - EuroKids Preschool, Kangaroo Kids Preschool, EuroKids DayCare, EuroSchool & Billabong High International, EuroKids is committed to delivering a robust foundation for future generations. The group’s ‘Child First’ ideology ensures that growth and engagement needs of a child are met in a home-like environment. Child safety focus and ensuring active engagement with parents during these crucial developmental years of the child is what makes EuroKids, a child’s Second Home. EuroKids, with its presence in over 360 cities with 1,200+ pre-schools and 38+ Schools, is achieving new milestones in education every day. 

Sharp Spike In Cases Of Mature Cataract And Dry Eyes During Pandemic

The ongoing pandemic has led to increased severity and morbidity in eye conditions of people in Bengaluru because of delayed treatment and lifestyle changes due to the pandemic, according to eye surgeons at Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital. The elderly people have been particularly impacted, with cases of mature cataracts going up as much as five times compared to the period before the pandemic. Incidence of severe dry eyes has also risen three times as people have been spending more time glued to digital screens. 

Said Dr. Ram Mirlay, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, Bengaluru: “During the last one year of the pandemic, patients have been worried about contracting coronavirus if they visited a hospital. Most people with pre-existing eye problems did not go for regular follow-ups during the lockdown and even afterwards, leading to aggravation of their condition. Others with newly developed eye problems waited to consult the doctors, which led to serious consequences, including loss of vision. In the last three months of 2019, before the pandemic had hit fully, just 10 percent of all cataract patients coming to our hospital were suffering from mature cataract. In the last quarter of 2020, this figure jumped to 50%, a five-fold increase.”  

He added: “We have also noticed worsening of existing cases of glaucoma in many patients as they hesitated to come for regular follow-ups. People with diabetes ignored their period eye check-ups, leading to severe complications in their retina. Pandemic has had a huge socio-economic impact too. Many cataract patients coming to us are opting to get operated in only one eye, as they are running low on finances due to reduced income.”  

Said Dr. Archana S, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Bengaluru: “Cases of severe dry eyes due to digital eye strain jumped from 10% before the pandemic to 30% now, as working from home led to loss of work-life balance and people got habituated to looking at digital screens for long hours. Those working on digital screens blink much less than normal, and even the blinks are not fully complete. This, coupled with glare and flickering of screens, has led to a big spike in incidence of digital eye strain and dry eyes. To give relief to the eyes, the rule is that for every 20 minutes of computer work, you should look away for 20 seconds to objects at least 20 feet away, or, better still, look out of the window.” 

She added: “It is important for people to not neglect their eye problems in pandemic times. To begin with, tele-consult is a good option and, in many cases, should be enough to get the right advice. Sometimes the doctor will advise to consult in person. That is the time when not doing anything can aggravate a minor eye problem to a more serious one. Rather than delaying treatment, choose an eye hospital where all safety precautions are being implemented.” 

Said Dr. Ram Mirlay: “Diabetic patients above 50 years old need to get their eyes screened at least once a year by an ophthalmologist, as over 30% of them go on to develop some form of diabetic eye disease, including vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Such patients should be extra careful in the pandemic time and do not hesitate to visit a hospital for regular check-ups. Any delay can create more severe complications, including loss of vision. This is true for Glaucoma patients too. If their condition is unstable or they develop unusual symptoms such as eye pain or changes in vision, they should see the doctor immediately.”  

About Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospitals: 

Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital a comprehensive eye hospital offering a one-stop solution for eye ailments; was started in the year 1957. Now the hospital is in its 61st year of offering quality services in eye care. It has 80+ hospitals across India. With a visible footprint in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andaman, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. A tertiary eye care centre at Mauritius marks its first step towards establishing an international presence extended up to 13 branches covering the Indian Ocean region, African countries and East Asia. 

Webisdom Heading Towards New Account Into The World Of Online Gaming

Digital marketing company ‘Webisdom’ which has worked with several gaming companies in the past is set to launch A1 games. The Covid19 pandemic has altered consumer behaviour leading to increased advertising on digital medium. The pandemic has also acted as a catalyst to the growth of the online gaming industry. This has led to the emergence of a new ‘space’ that marketers are taking notice of – online gaming platforms. Brands are not behind in tapping into this new space for marketing. In fact, advertising on gaming platforms is increasingly becoming a part of marketing plans of several companies due to the sticky young audience that is focused in their consumption patterns. In addition, gamers are willing to watch video ads for rewards.

Deepika, daughter of Mr. Chatar Singh Baid and investor in A1 games says, A1 Games, says “Online gaming platforms offer an immersive experience to users and opens up possibilities to engage with real gamers worldwide and post accomplishments on social media. Online games are not just a one person entertainment experience but have now become full-fledged virtual social spaces. So, we will continue to see the time spent on gaming going up.”

Mr. Suraj Bajpai, CEO Webisdom, says “In the last two to three years, we have run promotions, in-app purchases and also more serious brand building activities for several brands; even FMCG brands are now investing in mobile game advertising. We believe that more and more brands would be looking at this media platform as means of advertising. The younger population is hardly watching television, and gaming being a more interactive media would be the logical way ahead for brands to gain more visibility with this customer base. These platforms would be the ‘silent’ influencers.”

With the online gaming industries flourishing fast, Gamers are more than twice as likely to pay attention to advertisements placed in mobile games at 41 percent, as compared to ads placed on the internet at 17 percent, in magazines or on billboards at 15 percent each. Also, indicators such as engagement, targeting, and completion rates, can be identified and measured far more effectively.

Online gaming companies have successfully stirred up the interest of the youth with gaming being amongst the top five activities carried out on mobile device by a young tech-savvy population (with 75% aged under 45). As per industry estimates, India has over 300 million gamers today. Further, a survey has revealed gaming is part of daily lives of more than one-third Indians — 40% men and 35% women play mobile games at least five days a week. This past year, especially post the lockdown; online gaming platforms have received unprecedented traffic with a record 45-60% increase in time spent. A leading Indian gaming company witnessed a 200% increase in its user base during the lockdown, with about 1, 00,000 new users joining the platform every day.

About Webisdom

Webisdom is acommunity of diligent experts dedicated to developing streamlined digital solutions for businesses. They specialize in developing digital transformation solutions, digital marketing strategies, creative design and content development, website and mobile app development, app designing and performance marketing. Their work is founded on understanding the clients’ institutional context, macroeconomic environment and various business nodes. They have presence across India, Gulf, US and UK.The company is currently handling the launch and branding of an upcoming gaming platform – A1 Games, rumoured to be a smarter and safer gaming platform.

Opportunity To Position India As Global Hub For Data, AI, Enabling Investment, Jobs, And Innovation: Maheshwari

By Anant Maheshwari, President – Microsoft India in blog post 

Ours for the Taking!   

Like every other weekday, its 6am in the morning and you sit down with your tablet and cup of tea to scroll through the news feed. You scan your Teams' chat and Outlook email on your phone, to check if anything needs your immediate attention. A quick look at the calendar and you feel good… You will be fully present in your breakfast ritual with the kids today! Which reminds you that your on-demand yoga class is best out of the way before the rest of the family is up. Through breakfast, you get your kids to connect virtually with close family, deal with the delivery of groceries you ordered the previous evening, decide and download the movie night selection for the evening, and then set the kids up for remote school. The working day begins with Teams calls jostling for time with multiple collaboration chats coming alive. On successive Teams calls, you close a good deal with a customer, agree on a workplan with a partner and have a good 1-1 career conversation with your team member. At lunch, you join the tele-consultation with the hospital for a parent and schedule an at-home physiotherapy session. You make it an even more efficient lunch hour when you squeeze in an online application to renew your child's passport, set up a remote play date for the evening, and connect with your child's teacher on an assignment. After lunch, between meetings and emails, you remember two online payments that need to be made and quickly complete them on your phone. In the evening as you transition from work, you check your health parameters on the app and feel good about your recovery from the 2 weeks crisis with Covid infection four months back, when during the home quarantine your only connection with the world was virtual. As the day ends, the family gathers to talk to friends on a video chat, the kids watch the movie you ordered earlier, and dinner is done. A quick read of few pages on your online book while listening to your playlist as you settle into your bed at the end of just another day in the last 12 months!

Yes… its amazing to see life's continued momentum in the midst of the global pandemic crisis.

Can you spot the two common threads running through this narrative?.... You and the Cloud!

In the continuous ups and downs of life-in-a-pandemic we understand and value resilience. You are Resilient. And the Cloud empowers your resilience.

Think about it, all our service providers adapted to offer services remotely, and we adapted to that in a short time. This ability to adopt technology and integrate it into almost every aspect of our lives is called "Tech Intensity". Today every company is a tech company. We are in a hyper-tech-adoption mode. Organizations worldwide are building digital infrastructure, changing business models, and adopting best-in-class technology to develop unique digital capabilities.

Powering Tech Intensity is the Cloud! With the Cloud, we have a common platform on which everyone can innovate and apply their unique needs and solutions. This is based on an underlying foundation of trust in the Cloud as a platform. On the assumption that providers will be able to apply their unique IP. And, on trust that the consumer will be able to adapt to new forms of services.

Every organization and every industry will need to embrace Tech Intensity to be successful. The way we embrace it will define who we are, what we are capable of, and how we accelerate progress. Cases-in-point: AirJaldi, an enterprise that aims to take easy, affordable internet access to the most remote parts of the country. Or Karo Sambhav that is tackling India's massive e-waste challenge. Or V-shesh that is committed to providing digital skills to people with disabilities. Or Social Alpha that aims to accelerate the growth of healthcare startups. Or individuals like Namya Joshi and Ranjitsinh Disale blazing trails of change in the education sector. The examples of how we are adopting technology to provide solutions and services across the country are astounding.

The Prime Minister has laid the vision of technology leading the transformation of India into a global leader. Tech intensity can transform our villages and harness the power of our youth. We have an opportunity to position India as a global hub for Data and AI, enabling investment, jobs, and innovation. Increased domestic adoption of data and AI services will accelerate investment in building capabilities that can be exported globally.  This in fact is a half-a-trillion opportunity! According to a recent NASSCOM report, we can add 450-500B to India's GDP by 2025... if we capitalize on data and AI technologies. If I think of some of the examples I listed earlier, it's an excellent start to capturing 500 billion!

Tech intensity is a permanent part of our lives now, firmly embedded in the very fabric of our day-to-day living. It will only continue to accelerate from this point on. To further it, we need to build a powerful ecosystem with the government and industry. This will bolster cloud-led data and AI innovation, create a robust ecosystem of trust and security, allow us to explore new business models and partnerships, and strengthen the country's digital infrastructure.

We've shown remarkable resilience in the last 12 months. At the center of digital and technological adoption, capability and progress, is YOU…. And cloud-enabled Tech Intensity! This bodes very well for the next decade of economic growth.

We have a responsibility to make good of the promise of technology. And, prepare for a future where each of us has an equal chance to participate in success.

Resilience is us! Backed by some fantastic technology. Now, we've got to keep pace and keep going… to empower the future for you… for India… for the planet!

Vedanta Nand Ghar Bags The "CSR Shining Star Award" On Feb 2021

Vedanta Limited has been conferred with the “CSR Shining Star Award” under the category of Child Development for Nand Ghar, Vedanta Group’s flagship corporate social responsibility project. The recognition was given by Honorable Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari in an award ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan, Mumbai on 20th February 2021.

The award recognizes Vedanta’s efforts towards the holistic development and growth of children contributing towards building a stronger and healthier nation. 

Speaking on receiving the award, Vedanta Director, Ms. Priya Agarwal said: “I am honored as well ashumbled to receive the award for our Nand Ghars that aretransforming the lives of rural women and children across the country. We are committed to fulfilling Prime Minister ShriNarendra Modi’s vision of eradicating child malnutrition, providing education and healthcare, and empowering rural women through skill development, and Nand Ghar will be the change agent for the same. I have no doubt in my mind that Nand Ghar will continue to create a better tomorrow for the children and their mothers at the grassroots level.”

The Nand Ghar journey began in 2015 with a vision to transform the lives of 8.5 crore children and 2 crore women across 13.7 lakh anganwadis. A dream project of Vedanta Chairman, Shri Anil Agarwal, Nand Ghar is a network of model anganwadis where the thrust is on inclusive development of children, women and local communities. The Nand Ghars are set up in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development.

With more than 2000 centres, the Nand Ghar project is now spread across 10 states – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Assam, Himanchal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.  The project aims to touch the lives of 4 million community members while directly impacting around 2 lakh children and 1.8 lakh women on an annual basis.

Nand Ghars are equipped with solar panels to ensure 24 x 7 electricity, water purifiers, clean toilets and smart television sets, and have become a model resource centrefor the local communities. Pre-school education is provided to children in the age group of 3-6 years. Nutritious meals and take-home rations are being provided for children, pregnant and lactating women. Primary healthcare services are rendered through mobile health vans and women are empowered through skilling, credit linkage and enterprise development.

The All-New BMW R 18 Classic Makes Debut In The Indian Market

* A novel and distinctive interpretation of BMW R 18’s iconic style.

* Tribute to the beginnings of the great touring cruiser models.

* Typical cruiser styling combined with modern BMW technology.

* Propelled by the most powerful BMW boxer engine of all time.

* #BMWR18Classic #SoulFuel #MakeLifeARide #BMWMotorradIndia

BMW Motorrad India has launched the all-new BMW R 18 Classic in the country. The all-new BMW R 18 Classic can be ordered as a completely built-up unit (CBU) from today onwards through the BMW Motorrad dealer network. 

Following the premiere of the BMW R 18 last year, BMW Motorrad India has now introduced the second member of its new cruiser segment: The R 18 Classic. The all-new BMW R 18 Classic is a nostalgic touring bike that echoes the beginnings of great touring cruiser models.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW Motorrad made a striking entry into the cruiser segment with the BMW R 18. Building on the success and popularity of BMW’s first cruiser in India, we now present the BMW R 18 Classic with a reimagined, even more iconic character. The eye-catching styling of the BMW R 18 Classic adds on to the riding experience and evokes the emotions of a bygone era. While the design calls on the historic roots, the state-of-the-art technology and riding dynamics provide the most authentic, unparalleled experience one can enjoy on two wheels. This motorcycle will have an enormous appeal for motorcyclists who live for unforgettable cruising moments.”

In the all-new BMW R 18 Classic, a timeless design is merged with clear-cut yet contemporary technology to create a fascinating overall concept – offering a riding experience that is as cultivated as it is emotional. While the R 18 is purist in style, the R 18 Classic features a large windscreen, passenger seat, saddle bags, LED additional headlights and 16-inch front wheel. It features the largest displacement boxer engine ever built by BMW.

The all-new BMW R 18 Classic is available at following ex-showroom price –

The all-new BMW R 18 Classic ‘First Edition’             :INR 24,00,000                                               

*Price prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Delivery will be made on ex-showroom. Ex-showroom price (inclusive of GST) (incl compensation cess) as applicable but excludes Road Tax, RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax/cess levies and insurance. Prices and options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, please contact your local authorized BMW Motorrad Dealer.

For complete peace of mind and to ensure that the journey of pure motorcycling continues uninterrupted at all times, the all-new BMW R 18 Classic comes with a standard warranty for ‘three years, unlimited kilometers’, with an option to extend the warranty to fourth and fifth year. Roadside Assistance, a 24x7 365 days package further ensures prompt services in case of breakdown and towing situations.

The all-new BMW R 18 Classic

The all-new BMW R 18 Classic is BMW Motorrad’s interpretation of a cruiser that continues in the brand’s tradition and confidently exhibits the style of the times gone by. Its purity of functional and stylish design elements such as the double cradle frame, the tear drop tank, the exposed driveshaft and the paintwork with finely drawn double pinstripes are reminiscent of the legendary boxer from 1936. The classically designed circular instrument with integrated display is enclosed in a metal housing with decorative chrome ring. The ‘BERLIN BUILT’ inscription on the face reinforces the bike’s origin. The state-of-the-art LED headlights ensure superior visibility on all roads. The sickle shaped graphical LED daytime running light further enhances the hallmark BMW Motorrad heritage face.  Starting from the steering head, the central frame tube and swingarm top frame tubes visually form a continuous line that functions as a central design feature. In combination with the swingarm down tubes, which are also aligned with the frame down tubes, this gives the new R 18 a distinctly flat, elongated and muscular appearance. 

Superior ergonomics ensure a high level of long-distance comfort and an unadulterated cruiser feeling. The BMW Motorrad ergonomic triangle consisting of distance to handlebar–seat and the ‘mid-mounted foot peg’ position is traditionally the key factor that offers an active and upright seating position. 

The centerpiece of the all-new BMW R 18 Classic is a newly developed air/oil cooled two-cylinder boxer engine – the most powerful boxer in series production by BMW. The massive 1,802 cc engine resulting from a 107.1 mm bore and 100 mm stroke. It produces an output of 91 hp at 4,750 rpm. The maximum torque of 158 Nm is already available at 3,000 rpm, with more than 150 Nm available at any time from 2,000 – 4,000 rpm. This elemental pulling power is combined with a full, resonant sound.

A single-disc dry clutch transmits the torque to the transmission. For the first time, it is designed as a self-reinforcing anti-hopping clutch, thereby eliminating unwanted rear wheel hop. The constant mesh 6-speed transmission is in a dual-section aluminum housing and is designed as a 4-shaft transmission with helical gear pairs. The gearbox input shaft with lug dampers drives the two gearbox shafts with the gear wheel pairs via a countershaft. A reverse gear is available as an optional extra.

In terms of the suspension, the all-new BMW R 18 Classic sports a double loop steel tube frame. The rear swing arm surrounds the rear axle transmission in authentic style.  The suspension elements deliberately dispense with electronic adjustment options. Instead, a telescopic fork and a directly mounted central suspension strut with travel-dependent damping and adjustable spring preload ensure superior wheel control and better suspension comfort. The braking system consists of a twin disc brake at the front and a single disc brake at the rear in conjunction with four-piston fixed callipers.

Unusual in its segment, the all-new BMW R 18 offers three standard riding modes – ‘Rain’, ‘Roll’ and ‘Rock’ to suit individual rider preferences. In ‘Rain’ mode, throttle response is gentler and riding dynamics allow a high safety over slippery road surface. In ‘Roll’ mode, the engine offers optimum throttle response while riding dynamics achieve ideal performance on all roads. ‘Rock’ mode allows riders to tap into the full dynamic potential - throttle response is very spontaneous and direct, while Automatic Stability Control allows a little more slip.

The all-new BMW R 18 Classic boasts a list of important standard features. The disengageable traction control Automatic Stability Control provides perfect control, whether the road is dry or wet. Dynamic Engine Brake Control electronically prevents the sliding of rear wheel by sudden closure of throttle or back spacing. Hill Start Control makes starting off on a hill particularly easy. Keyless Ride system replaces the conventional ignition steering lock. The bike also offers Electronic Cruise Control as standard.

The all-new BMW R 18 brake system is equipped with the well-established BMW Motorrad Integral ABS (partially integral) that adapts the distribution of brake force between the front and rear brakes to the dynamic wheel load distribution and the load state. In addition, the dynamic brake light signals function warns following traffic in two stages when the brakes are applied sharply and in the event of an emergency brake manoeuvre.

BMW Motorrad has also collaborated with renowned international brands to further add to the diverse range of accessories and customization. Created in collaboration with Roland Sands Design, two different design collections of milled aluminium parts are available – ‘Machined’ and ‘2-Tone-Black’. In cooperation with Mustang Seats, high-quality, hand-made seats are offered in different variants for a variety of purposes. Developed in cooperation with Vance & Hines, a custom exhaust system is available in chrome or with a scratch-resistant black ceramic coating.